German team to fly rainbow flag

(CNN) -- Germany's St. Pauli plans on further supporting the gay community by permanently flying the rainbow flag -- which symbolizes gay pride -- at its stadium from this season.

"The club has been active for many years against homophobia and discrimination," St. Pauli's vice-president Gernot Stenger told the club website. "With this flag we are giving this highly visible sign that these issues have great importance at St. Pauli and we are working hard on them."

A member of the club's gay and lesbian fan club, Dirk Brullau, backed the initiative and said it would be a "quantum leap for the football world" if a Bundesliga team followed suit.

Hamburg's St. Pauli, which enjoys a cult following due to the skull and crossbones shown on the flag of its supporters, plays in Germany's second tier.

Its move comes less than two months after American Robbie Rogers became the first openly gay male athlete to play in a U.S. professional match.

Read: Rogers makes Galaxy debut

Rogers initially retired from soccer in February, announcing he was gay.

He unretired and signed with the Los Angeles Galaxy of the MLS, making his debut in late May.

Jason Collins, a pro basketball player who announced he was gay in April, tweeted Rogers good luck.

"People are just really growing and accepting and loving," Rogers said earlier in May. "Those other things are just not that important to them.

"I think as the younger get older and the generations come and go, I think times are just becoming more accepting."

But for now no soccer player from the Bundesliga or one of the other elite divisions in Europe has come out as gay, with German international teammates Mario Gomez and Tim Wiese seemingly taking different views on whether they should.

Read: The Secret Footballer on homophobia

Three years ago, Gomez urged gay players to go public.

Wiese, however, said they would be "destroyed" by "merciless fans," the Guardian reported.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel last year said gay footballers shouldn't be worried about revealing their sexuality.

"Anyone who sums up the strength and bravery should know that they live in a land where they have nothing to fear," said Merkel.

Via: German team to fly rainbow flag

Al Fayed's reign at Fulham ends

(CNN) -- Fulham became the sixth soccer team in England's Premier League to fall into U.S. ownership when the charismatic Mohamed Al Fayed sold the club to billionaire and N.F.L. owner Shahid Khan.

The deal, which had been in the works, was confirmed on Fulham's website Friday. The selling price wasn't disclosed, although several British media outlets reported it was upwards of $225 million.

Fulham said Khan assumes full ownership of the Cottagers, "debt-free, as of today."

"It has been a pleasure and privilege to be the Chairman of Fulham Football Club for 16 memorable years," Al Fayed, 84, told Fulham's website. "I am now delighted to be passing this great and historic Club into the care and stewardship of an outstanding man who has already achieved much in his life and will, I am sure, take Fulham on to even greater things.

"By his hard work, vision and determination, Shahid Khan has become a living embodiment of the American success story. His achievements speak for themselves.

"I met him twice prior to our successful transaction this week and have been very favorably impressed."

Al Fayed bought Fulham in 1997 for roughly $9 million and proceeded to pump around $300 million into the club based in southwest London, not far from Harrods -- the luxurious and iconic London department store Al Fayed owned before selling it to Qatar Holdings for a reported $2.3 billion in 2010.

Read: Al Fayed sells Harrods

While never challenging for the Premier League title, Fulham cemented its spot in the world's most watched league after winning promotion from the second tier in 2001 and even reached the Europa League final in 2010.

Training facilities improved, Craven Cottage was revamped and Fulham has permission to increase the capacity of the ground to 30,000.

It was during his stint with Fulham, though, that Al Fayed suffered heartbreak, losing his son, Dodi, in the car crash that also killed Princess Diana in Paris in 1997.

Al Fayed never shied away from doing things his own way.

He commissioned a statue of Michael Jackson -- his friend -- after the singer died in 2009 and put it outside Fulham's Craven Cottage stadium that sits on the banks of the River Thames.

Some fans didn't like it but Al Fayed didn't care.

Read: Al Fayed defends Jackson statue

He now plans to spend more time with his grandchildren in retirement.

"I am sad but proud of our achievements," said Al Fayed. "I am very grateful to Fulham's fans, the most incredible fans in the world. They have given me their support and affection whenever they have seen me at home games.

"I would never let them down. I have passed the Club to a talented, honest and highly capable man who respects Fulham and its traditions. He is a great sportsman."

The Pakistan-born Khan, according to Forbes, was worth $2.9 billion as of last March.

He moved to the U.S. from Pakistan at the age of 16 to study at the University of Illinois, became a U.S. citizen and turned himself into one of the world's richest men.

Forbes reported that his company, automotive parts manufacturer Flex-N-Gate, generated sales of $3.9 billion in 2012.

Khan bought the Jacksonville Jaguars two years ago and the Jaguars will contest a game in London for the next four seasons.

U.S. owners have had spotty records in the Premier League -- think George Gillett and Tom Hicks at Liverpool -- so Fulham fans can only hope for the best.

Other Premier League teams currently owned by Americans are Manchester United, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Sunderland and Liverpool, with the latter now in the hands of John Henry.

Read: Henry seals Liverpool takeover

"Fulham is the perfect club at the perfect time for me," Khan, in his early 60s, told Fulham's website. "I want to be clear, I do not view myself so much as the owner of Fulham but a custodian of the club on behalf of its fans.

"My priority is to ensure the club and Craven Cottage each have a viable and sustainable Premier League future that fans of present and future generations can be proud of.

"We will manage the club's financial and operational affairs with prudence and care, with youth development and community programs as fundamentally important elements of Fulham's future."

Fulham's first league game of the new season under Khan is an away trip to Sunderland on August 17.

Via: Al Fayed's reign at Fulham ends

More reason to root for Belize

(CNN) -- Belize, the tiny nation bordering Mexico and Guatemala, was already a fan favorite at the Gold Cup given its massive underdog tag.

But the national team likely gained even more supporters after players turned down a "large amount of money" to throw a match against the U.S. at the tournament.

Two of the players, Woodrow West and Ian Gaynair, told CONCACAF officials about the incident and after an investigation was launched, it led to "positive identification of the individual attempting the bribery," the governing body said in a statement.

"We want to thank Woodrow West and Ian Gaynair and recognize them for their bravery and commitment to preserving the integrity of our game," CONCACAF said.

Read: Match fixing threatens football's integrity

According to the website of a television station in Belize, the man offering the money first met team members in Guatemala and attempted to befriend them.

He then called them in Portland, Oregon and met players at a mall near the team hotel two days before the game against the Gold Cup host.

"He started talking that we don't really stand a chance to beat the U.S. so he wanted us to promise him that we would lose the game and that he would give us a large amount of money to change our lives in Belize and to help our families," Gaynair was quoted as saying by the website, www.7newsbelize.com.

Even though the majority of Belize's players are part-timers and the team needed to hold fundraisers to help cover costs, the players declined the offer.

"He saw that my features changed and he saw that we weren't into it so he got frightened and took out a large amount of money to bribe us, a lot of hundred and fifty dollar bills and threw it at us on the table and told us to keep it and to not say anything," Gaynair, a defender, said.

"Like I told him, 'We can't take that money,' because at the end of the day our country is behind us and we just made history for these big games so we can't just sell out our country for a little bit of money."

Belize, 130th in the FIFA rankings, would go on to lose 6-1 to the U.S. in Portland in its tournament debut Wednesday.

"We are Belizeans and that is what we're doing out here -- to represent our country and me, Woodrow West, and being loyal to my country," said West, the backup keeper. "That (is) bigger than any amount of money that they can ever give me and that is why I stood firm.

"Thank God we had that strength to deny this man because he was really into giving us a large amount of money."

Read: Match fixing is a 'soccer disease'

Although the actions of the Belize internationals will be fully applauded, the approach raises concerns about the seemingly easy access to players.

In February, Europol deemed more than 600 games across the globe suspicious as the sport's underbelly -- of match fixing -- was exposed.

"The fight against match manipulation is a top priority for CONCACAF," CONCACAF said. "In alignment with FIFA guidelines and with the help of outside entities such as Interpol, we have taken all necessary measures to ensure the legitimacy of each game played throughout the 2013 Gold Cup.

"We are precluded from commenting any further on this matter, due to the ongoing nature of the investigation."

FIFA didn't return an email from CNN seeking comment.

Belize, meanwhile, faces Costa Rica on Saturday.

Via: More reason to root for Belize

Brazil thrash Spain in final

(CNN) -- Hosts Brazil enjoyed a triumphant finale to the troubled Confederations Cup with a 3-0 defeat of world champions Spain in the Maracana Sunday.

A tournament marked by nationwide protests, ended with a reminder of Brazil's enduring quality as a football powerhouse, which has previously served as uniting factor for the entire nation.

Certainly those packed inside the famous stadium in Rio de Janeiro for the final of the eight-team tournament, a rehearsal for next year's World Cup, would have been filled with optimism.

Protesters outside the iconic ground, with reports of clashes with riot police amid tight security, have been complaining about the cost of staging the global showpiece against a backdrop of poor public services and alleged corruption.

READ: World Cup only benefits outsiders, say protesters

But Luiz Felipe Scolari's men did their best to make sure the headlines would be made by their exploits as they dominated a team holding both the World Cup and European Championship trophies.

For as well as Brazil played, Spain's performance was below standard, with Fred's early goal after a Neymar assist all too easy.

Spain could offer little in return and the home side went further ahead just before the break as Barcelona-bound Neymar received a pass from Oscar and beat Iker Casillas with a thunderous shot.

Only two minutes were on the clock in the second half when Fred beat Casillas again with a first-time shot and Spain's hopes were all but over.

Their night continued to go from bad to worse and after they won a penalty, Sergio Ramos, the hero in the semifinal shoot out win over Italy, sent his effort wide.

With Brazil threatening to add further goals, Gerard Pique hacked down his soon to be teammate Neymar and was promptly shown red.

At the final whistle, the stadium erupted in a sea of yellow to greet a success many will see as a prelude to Brazil winning back the World Cup in 2014.

"Nobody expected such an emphatic result, not against the world champions," said Brazil's coach Luiz Felipe Scolari after the match, in quotes carried by Fifa.com.

"But let's not get carried away. This is more than a title because we've shown that we're on the right path and that we can now take a little more confidence with us as we travel down it."

With the tournament overshadowed by ongoing unrest across the country, Scolari said he hoped the result would bring some relief.

"It's a message for the whole of Brazil. We have to get along and stick together to make sure things move forward."

His opposite number, meanwhile, was philosophical in defeat.

"Obviously this defeat hurts, but I think deep down that we've had a good Confederations Cup," Vicente Del Bosque told reporters.

"I'd rather take the positives away with me today. I've been with an exceptional group of players who have given their all in what have been a fantastic 28 days together."

Earlier, Italy beat Uruguay 3-2 on penalties to claim third spot after the game ended 2-2 after extra time in Salvador.

Via: Brazil thrash Spain in final

Can a team win 79-0?

(CNN) -- It's not every day that just two football matches produce a cricket score -- in this case an incredible 146 goals -- and Nigerian football authorities are so suspicious of the games in question that they have been referred to the police as a "criminal matter."

As both Plateau United Feeders and Police Machine FC battled to reach the fifth tier of the Nigerian football league on Monday, the amateur sides racked up 79-0 and 67-0 wins respectively.

At half-time, the teams had managed a relatively meager 13 goals between them -- only for the avalanche to begin as the teams tried to outdo one another on goal difference.

Read: Nigeria win 2013 Africa Cup of Nations

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) indefinitely suspended the winning sides and their beaten opponents as it launched an investigation into an incident it termed "a mind-boggling show of shame never previously witnessed in Nigerian football."

The scores were the biggest seen in African football since Madagascar's AS Adema won 149-0 in a match where losing side Stade Olympique l'Emyrne scored numerous own goals in protest at a refereeing decision.

"We have reported the matter to police as it is a criminal matter," the NFF's Assistant Media Director Ademola Olajire, told CNN.

"They will do their due diligence, and we will also do our own investigation. The results of our investigation are likely to result in very, very severe penalties for all involved. The clubs may be banned for life."

One of the losing sides, Bubayaro, has already been disbanded by its president following their thrashing by Police Machine FC, while Akurba FC were the side who shipped 79 goals.

Like the NFF, Bubayaro owner Shuaibu-Gara Ahmed Gombe also referred the incident to police in Bauchi State, which is where the playoff matches took place.

But those associated with the club cannot wash their hands of the matter by simply closing Bubayaro down, says Olajire.

"We still have details of their officials," he explained. "They still exist as people and they will have to answer to the police."

Read: South African soccer chief suspended in match-fixing scandal

In its initial statement, the NFF described the results as "scandalous".

The material benefit for whichever side won promotion was minimal, says Olajire, and the players themselves would gain little by stepping up a division. Even wages for those playing in Nigeria's elite Premier League rarely top $200 per month.

"Getting into the (fifth) division is no great shakes financially," the NFF media spokesman said.

"Even clubs in the second division struggle to make ends meet. There is sponsorship for teams in the Premier League but very little compared to what they pay to play games around the country."

Football's world governing body FIFA is also interested in what action the NFF takes.

"The matter is firstly the responsibility of the Nigerian Football [Federation]," FIFA told CNN in a statement. "Therefore FIFA is currently monitoring the situation and waiting for action taken by the Nigerian [federation]."

As they entered the third and final round of matches to determine which team would gain promotion to the Nationwide League Division 3, Plateau United and Police Machine were level on points, goal difference and goals scored.

Both sides had managed a total of just two goals in their previous two games but at halftime in the decisive matches, Plateau United were 7-0 up and holding the advantage as their opponents had scored one fewer.

The second half witnessed a tsunami of goals, with United netting on 72 occasions and Police Machine plundering 61 strikes themselves.

Police Matter

One thorny issue for those leading the inquiry is that Yola-based Police Machine are a side that represent Nigeria's police force.

"This will be a very dispassionate job," the NFF's Olajire added. "We believe the police will do a fair job, no matter that a police team is involved.

"I want to assure you that this matter will interest the Director General of police, Mohammed Abubakar, who is a former member of the NFF board."

CNN tried to contact police authorities in Nigeria but they were not immediately available for comment. Neither were officials from clubs that traditionally lack presence both domestically and online.

News of what leading NFF official Mike Umeh has called a "scandal of huge proportions" come in a year when Nigerian football has been on the up.

Earlier this year, the West African country won the Africa Cup of Nations when beating Burkina Faso in the final, the Super Eagles' first continental title since 1994 and their third overall.

However, Olajire does not believe the playoff farce will be of any detriment to the standing of Nigerian football around the world.

"You have people who try to break the law everywhere. What matters are the steps that are taken next. We want to assure you that the NFF is on top of this."

Via: Can a team win 79-0?

Man Utd signs new sponsor

(CNN) -- Manchester United may face a new challenge on the field next season without Alex Ferguson but the English Premier League giant appears to have no domestic equals commercially with its ever expanding list of global sponsors.

United, which won its 20th league title last year, announced a deal with Thai telecommunications group True Corporation Plc Monday -- taking its number of sponsors close to 40.

According to a press release issued by the club, around 70 million people in Thailand watched United's games in the first seven months of last season, though the club did not disclose how much the new sponsorship deal was worth.

Read: Brand United will survive

True Group becomes United's official mobile partner and club broadcaster for Thailand -- the latest in a whole host of deals carried out by the Red Devils.

"When considering our partners, the club likes to ensure the company in question shares many of the same attributes that have allowed us to grow into the world's most recognized team," United group managing director Richard Arnold told the club's official website.

"True is a company that demonstrated many admirable qualities, itself crediting courage and the ability to take on new challenges as the key to its success.

"Since forming in 1990 it has continued to grow with the fast-paced telecommunications industry to become one of the best in its territory, proudly being the first to embrace many new technologies.

"Our new partnership is set to follow suit and provide our 20 million loyal and passionate Thai followers with exclusive content and footage, bringing them closer to the club they love."

Read: United pens new multi-million dollar Aon deal

In May, United reported a 52.2% increase in sponsorship revenue following deals with a Japanese social gaming company and two financial services firms in Denmark and Vietnam.

In April, United signed an eight-year deal with insurance company Aon -- a move which saw the firm sponsor the club's Carrington training ground as well as its training kit for a reported $23 million.

The Old Trafford club was placed in the New York Stock Exchange last August by its American owners, the Glazer family.

Its revenues for the 2011/12 season increased by $21.6 million to $179 million -- placing it way ahead of its domestic rivals, despite an estimated gross debt of $560 million.

Read: Real Madrid usurp Man Utd

Last year alone, United increased its value by 42% to $3.17 billion, according to Forbes business magazine.

According to a study recently commissioned by the club, United's global fan base doubled to 659 million people between 2007 and 2012 with 325 million of those living in Asia.

According to the Deloite Football Money League report for 2013, only Real Madrid and Barcelona are worth more than United, while Chelsea is the nearest English challenger.

United will travel to Asia next month for a tour of the Far East and Australia with its opening game in Bangkok against the Singha All Stars -- a contest for which True Group will act as an associate sponsor.

Read: Moyes signs six-year deal

Meanwhile new United manager David Moyes officially began work Monday after replacing Ferguson at the helm.

Ferguson, who won over 30 trophies in 26 years at the club, retired last season after leading United to a 13th Premier League title.

The Scot also won two European Cups, five FA Cups, four League Cups, one European Cup Winners' Cup and one FIFA Club World Cup.

Moyes, who has brought his own coaching staff from former club Everton, will work alongside assistant manager Steve Round, goalkeeping coach Chris Woods and first team coach Jimmy Lumsden.

"I have worked with Steve, Chris and Jimmy for a number of years and I am delighted they have decided to join me at this great club," Moyes told United's official website.

"They bring great qualities in their respective fields and I know that, like me, they feel that this is a challenge to relish.

"I have great faith that together, we can build upon the success this club has enjoyed over many years."

Moyes will welcome the players back to training later this week before the squad leave for Thailand on July 10.

Via: Man Utd signs new sponsor

Au revoir to Leonardo at PSG

(CNN) -- The man who helped bring David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva to Paris Saint-Germain as part of its empire building is leaving the Qatari-owned French club.

A key figure in the club's revival thanks to his extensive network of contacts, Leonardo handed in his resignation as sporting director, signaling the second major departure from PSG in two weeks after coach Carlo Ancelotti -- Leonardo's friend -- left for Real Madrid.

"Leonardo has informed Paris Saint-Germain of his desire to resign from his position as Sport Director at the end of the current transfer window," PSG said in a statement Wednesday. "We regret this choice but respect his decision.

"We thank him greatly for his important contributions towards the project of building a top European club in Paris and wish him all the best for his future career choice."

Read: Ancelotti leaves PSG

Earlier this month Leonardo's suspension for shoving a referee following PSG's 1-1 draw with Valenciennes in May was extended from nine to 13 months, although the ban wouldn't have affected most of his duties as sporting director.

When Leonardo was hired by PSG in July 2011, he said he wasn't overawed as he sought to turn the team -- backed by the wealthy owners -- into a global powerhouse. He called the challenge a "buzz."

With Ancelotti at the helm and the likes of Ibrahimovic, Silva and the now retired Beckham -- for a short while -- on the pitch, PSG last season claimed the league title for the first time since 1994.

The influx of cash didn't hurt. The owners invested an estimated more than $195 million in the club, turning it into the highest-spending side in Europe.

In Europe the campaign was also a success, as inexperienced PSG reached the quarterfinals and was only knocked out on away goals by Barcelona thanks to Lionel Messi's late cameo.

Read: Beckham's glittering career

Almost one million people tried to obtain tickets for the first leg that was played in PSG's 45,000 capacity Parc des Princes stadium.

Before the Brazilian leaves, PSG could tie up a deal for sought after Napoli striker Edinson Cavani, a boost for Ancelotti's managerial replacement Laurent Blanc.

The transfer window in France closes on August 31, with PSG kicking off the defense of its Ligue 1 title at Montpellier on August 9.

But it wasn't all smooth sailing for Leonardo. Besides his suspension, he clashed with Ibrahimovic in the dressing room after PSG won the title and has drawn criticism for some of PSG's signings, including Javier Pastore.

The Argentinean's transfer fee was a hefty $54 million.

Leonardo collapsed and had to go to hospital shortly after his altercation with Ibrahimovic, sparking reports he was stressed.

Leonardo, like Blanc a World Cup winner, earned more than 50 caps for Brazil and was a fan favorite during his four years at A.C. Milan, the club most commonly associated with Ancelotti.

He turned to management when his playing days were over, spending a season at both A.C. Milan and its city rival Inter.

Via: Au revoir to Leonardo at PSG